JP2636312B2 - Printer interface device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a printer such as a laser beam printer for recording recording information from a host computer or the like on a recording medium such as recording paper. Using a recording device with a predetermined capacity called a bit map memory that is easy to use,
For example, the present invention relates to a printer called a page printer which can record one page at a time. In the present specification, even if a single recording is not limited to one page, but is a half page, two pages or more, it is collectively referred to as a page printer for convenience.

[Conventional technology]

The recording information from the host computer to the above-described page printer is usually sent as serial data using one signal line. When the recording information from the host computer is temporarily expanded and stored in a bitmap memory so that, for example, one page can be output collectively, characters corresponding to the characters constituting the image to be recorded by the recording information are used. If the information is a character code, the font data for each character code is read from the font memory and written in the decision storage area on the bit map repeatedly, and the recorded information is stored in the image to be recorded. If the image data is graphic image data as the corresponding image information, the raster image data sent as serial data corresponding to the graphic image data is sequentially written from the beginning of the bitmap memory. I have.

By the way, as a printer for recording recording information such as image information and character information on a recording medium, besides the page printer such as the laser beam printer mentioned above, a more widespread impact type wire dot impact printer is used. Are known. This wire dot impact printer has a recording head in which a plurality of wire pins are arranged in a vertical direction, and the plurality of wire pins selectively strike an ink ribbon according to recording information while the recording head moves in a horizontal direction. And presses the recording medium against a recording medium. Accordingly, when the wire dot impact printer is used as an output terminal, the recording information from the host computer is graphic image data corresponding to the image to be recorded, and the graphic image data corresponds to the number of the wire pins. The configuration is such that vertical data of a plurality of bits is provided as serial data arranged in a horizontal direction.

In summary, conventionally, a recording system including a host computer and a printer as an output terminal thereof has a special purpose because of a difference in the configuration (protocol) of recording information transmitted between them. It was configured with a combination.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, page printers such as laser beam printers, which have become increasingly widespread in recent years, can perform printing at high speed and obtain high-resolution recorded images, and most of them do not involve noise in the recording operation. Therefore, even in a recording system including a wire dot impact printer and a host computer adapted to the wire dot impact printer, a general-purpose page printer such as a laser beam printer is used. Without changing to a combination of a printer and a host computer that adapts to it, just changing the wire dot impact printer to a page printer such as a laser beam printer,
There is a demand for cost-effective recording efficiency and high quality.

Therefore, when generalizing a page printer such as a laser beam printer, as described above, the protocol of the recording information output from the dedicated host computer corresponding to the wire dot impact printer is changed to the dedicated protocol corresponding to the page printer. Since the protocol of the record information output from the host computer is different,
It is necessary to convert recording information for a wire dot impact printer into serial data suitable for a page printer such as a laser beam printer.

As one means for that, it is conceivable to provide an interface made of hardware, but in that case, there is a possibility that the cost may be increased due to the addition of hardware even to support a single protocol, In order to support various types of protocols, hardware dedicated to each protocol is required, which may lead to a complicated configuration and a significant increase in cost. Therefore, in order to generalize a page printer in a form that is advantageous in terms of cost and can easily cope with various kinds of protocols, it is necessary to change the data processing process only for the protocol conversion. It is necessary to prepare emulation software.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a general-purpose page printer that is advantageous in terms of cost in view of the above situation.

[Means for solving the problem]

The feature configuration of the printer interface device according to the present invention includes: a bitmap memory for storing a plurality of dot data for printing over a predetermined range in a state arranged on a virtual matrix of a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; A font memory that stores font data in which multiple dot data for each character code are arranged on a virtual matrix of multiple rows and multiple columns, and the relationship between a transposed matrix and a row vector composed of multiple bits of serial data. A pseudo font memory storing pseudo font data including a plurality of dot data forming a column vector, a data discriminating means for discriminating whether input data is serial data indicating a graphic image or character code data; Means to be read out according to the determination result by the means Data reading selecting means for selecting one of the similar font memory and the font memory; and pseudo font data or font data according to input data from the pseudo font memory or font memory selected by the data reading selecting means. There is provided a developing means for reading and developing dot data on the bitmap memory, and an output means for reading and outputting dot data in the bitmap memory in a predetermined order.

(Operation)

First, as an example, in correspondence with a wire dot impact printer having a recording head having eight wire pins,
A case will be described in which a printer having an interface device according to the present invention is used as an output terminal of a host computer configured to send recording information as serial data in which 8-bit vertical graphic image data is arranged in a horizontal direction.

8-bit serial data representing a graphic image from the host computer dedicated to the wire dot impact printer is input to the interface device of the present invention. When the input data is determined to be serial data indicating a graphic image by the data determining means, the data reading selecting means specifically sets the pseudo font memory as a reading target by changing the designated address data for reading. Select and deploy means
The pseudo font data corresponding to the input pseudo character code is read from the pseudo font memory and expanded on the bit map memory.

The pseudo font data includes eight dot data that constitute a column vector having a transpose relationship with a row vector composed of 8-bit serial data. That is, the 8-bit serial data is
While the pseudo font data is arranged in the row direction on the virtual matrix formed by the bitmap memory, the pseudo font data has eight dot data arranged in the column direction on the virtual matrix.

On the other hand, when the image data is determined by the data determination means to be serial data indicating a graphic image, the expansion means includes the determined storage area on the bitmap memory in the transposed matrix for the 8-bit serial data. The eight dot data of the pseudo font data are arranged in the column direction between the first row and the first column to the first row and the eighth column on a virtual matrix formed by the bitmap memory, and the eight dot data are arranged. The data is developed as one dot data group so that a plurality of dot data groups are sequentially arranged in the row direction without gaps.

When the input data is character code data, the expansion means reads the font data from the font memory corresponding to the input data and expands the font data on the bit map memory. The font data to be read is arranged, for example, on a 16-dot × 16-dot virtual matrix, and in order to develop the font data on a bitmap memory,
For a certain font data, the first address where the data of the first row and the first column is to be stored is designated, and for the next font data, one font data (16 dots × If it is 16 dots, the second address is increased by 16 dots (= 2 bytes).

Therefore, specifically, when the pseudo font data is composed of dot data of 1 dot × 8 dots as described above, the expansion means stores the data of the first column in the pseudo font data. After the first address to be specified is specified, an increment of the specified address data is performed so that the next pseudo font data specifies the second address which is increased by one dot in the row direction from the first address. The dot image is changed on the basis of the result of determination by the determination means, and the dot image is developed on the bitmap.
Thereby, on the virtual matrix formed by the bitmap memory, a plurality of dot data for recording is written such that a plurality of dot data arranged in a row in the column direction are sequentially stored in the row direction, As a result, a plurality of dot data for recording are arranged in the bitmap memory in the same arrangement as the above-described arrangement by the wire dot impact printer that has received the 8-bit serial data from the host computer on the virtual matrix. Be expanded.

Then, in the actual recording operation, the output means
By reading a plurality of dot data in the bitmap memory according to the predetermined order without changing the predetermined order, and outputting the dot data to a modulation unit for modulating a laser beam in the case of a laser beam printer, for example,
A record similar to that recorded by a wire dot impact printer is obtained.

In other words, in the printer interface device according to the present invention, each of a predetermined number of sets of serial data corresponding to the image itself is regarded as a character code,
By treating it in the same way as the actual character code corresponding to the character, a pseudo font memory with a configuration almost similar to that of the font memory is added, and the configuration of the bitmap memory and the output means is completely changed only by changing the software. An output terminal of a host computer that outputs image information with a protocol corresponding to a wire dot impact printer without adding and without requiring hardware for expanding serial data to a predetermined address on a bit map memory. , A page printer can be used.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, an outline of the entire recording system up to the actual recording based on the recording information from the host computer (1), including the printer interface device according to the present invention, will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, recording information from a host computer (1) is input via a cable (2) to a laser beam printer (LP) which is an example of a printer according to the present invention. A laser beam printer (LP) oscillates a laser beam to develop a latent image formed on a photoreceptor, and then transfers and fixes the latent image on recording paper to obtain a record. And a print controller (4) as an interface device for controlling a recording operation in the recording section (3). A data bus (5) is sent from the print controller (4) to the recording section (3).
The recording information is transmitted via the command bus (6), and the information for recording control is mutually transmitted between the two via the command bus (6).

The print controller (4) writes and reads recording data to and from a bit map memory (4A), a font memory (4B), and the bit map memory (4A) each having a capacity corresponding to one page of recording. It has a bitmap reading unit (4C) and a bitmap control unit (4D) for controlling data writing and recording operations to the bitmap memory (4A).

Recording information from the host computer (1) is input to the bitmap control unit (4D). The bitmap control unit (4D) is provided with a text buffer (4E) having a capacity corresponding to one page of recording.
In D), one page of the input recording information is provisionally edited using the text buffer (4E). The bitmap reading unit (4C) stores the temporarily edited record information sent from the bitmap control unit (4D) in the bitmap memory (4A).
Write to. After the storage of the recording information in the bitmap memory (4A) is completed, the bitmap control unit (4C) receives a print start command from the bitmap control unit (4D) and records from the bitmap memory (4A). The information is sequentially read out and output to the recording unit (3) via the data bus (5).

The bitmap reading unit (4C) includes a bitmap control unit interface (4a), a data writing unit (4b), a printer head control unit interface (4c), a font memory interface (4d), and the like. In the bitmap control unit interface (4a), the input data from the bitmap control unit (4D) is divided into recording data and printer control data, and the recording data is sent to the data writing unit (4b) for printer control. The data is output to the print head controller (3a) via the printer head control interface (4c). The printer head controller interface (4c) reads out recording information from the bitmap memory (4A) in response to a printer start command sent as printer control data and print controller (3a) of the recording unit (3). Output to The data writing unit (4b) stores the record information in the bitmap memory (4A)
Write in the predetermined location above.

By the way, there are two types of recording information sent from the host computer (1). One type is character information sent as a set of characters constituting an image, and is usually sent as a character code called an ASCII code in an 8-bit unit. The other type is image information sent in units of pixels obtained by decomposing the image itself.

If the input recording information is image information, it is determined by the bitmap control unit (4D), and the recording information is transmitted to the bitmap control unit interface (4a) of the bitmap reading unit (4C) and the data writing unit. The data is sequentially written from the top of the bit map memory (4A) through the memory unit (4b). On the other hand, if the input recording information is character information, a command code is normally sent prior to the character code which is the character information, and the bitmap control unit (4D) determines that the command code is sent. Based on the result, the data writing unit (4b) transmits the font memory (4B) via the font memory interface (4d).
, The font data corresponding to the record information is read and written to the bit map memory (4A).

The configuration of the above-mentioned font memory (4B), and the reading of font data from the font memory (4B) and the writing to the bitmap memory (4A) by the data writing section (4b) are described in, for example, Since it is publicly known as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 113089, a detailed description will be omitted and only an outline will be described.

The font data stored in the font memory (4B) is obtained by arranging a plurality of dot data on a virtual matrix of multiple rows and multiple columns, for example, according to the brightness of recording on a virtual matrix of 24 rows x 24 columns. It is a dot matrix in which the binarized data is arranged.

In the data writing section (4b), based on the input character code, the address of the font memory (4B) in which the font data corresponding to the character code is stored is designated and the font data is read out. The start address of the font data storage area on the bit map memory (4A) is specified based on the character code array, and the read font data is written to the storage area on the bit map memory (4A).

A plurality of character codes as character information from the host computer (1) are arranged such that each line of a record composed of a plurality of lines is arranged from top to bottom, and each character is arranged from left to right in each line constituted by a plurality of characters. Sent in order.
Therefore, the data writing unit (4b) stores the font data corresponding to each character code in the bitmap memory (4A).
Are configured to determine the storage area of each font data in a state where sets arranged in order from left to right are arranged in order from top to bottom on a virtual matrix formed by.

Specifically, the storage area is determined by the data writing unit (4b) by designating address data (hereinafter, referred to as head address data) in which dot data in the first row and first column of certain font data is to be stored. Only so that
The remaining dot data of the font data is configured to be automatically written. Then, a plurality of font data are stored in the bitmap memory (4A) in the order described above.
When the data is stored in the storage area, the storage area is determined by the data writing unit (4b) by increasing the head address data by an amount corresponding to the size of the font data (16 bits). .

The plurality of dot data for recording stored in the bitmap memory (4A) by the print controller (4) as the image data generating means (GM) as described above is
The data is read out by a printer head controller interface (4c) as output means in accordance with a one-way line-sequential scanning order on a virtual matrix formed by the bit map memory (4A), and the print head control of the recording unit (3) is performed. Output to the section (3a). The print head controller (3a) modulates the laser beam based on the plurality of dot data in synchronization with the scanning of the laser beam on the photosensitive body for recording in the same manner in a one-way line-sequential scanning manner. In this way, a record can be obtained.

The above-described recording system combines a laser beam printer (LP), which has recently been increasing in demand due to its excellent recording speed and recording resolution, and a dedicated host computer (1). Things. However, there is a recording system in which an impact-type wire dot impact printer, which has been frequently used, and a dedicated host computer are combined.

Although not shown, this type of wire dot impact printer includes a recording head in which a plurality of wire pins are arranged in a vertical direction. The recording is performed by selectively hitting the ink ribbon with the wire pins and pressing the ink ribbon against recording paper or the like. Accordingly, in the case of graphic image data, which is image information, the recording information from a dedicated host computer combined with such a wire dot impact printer is to convert the vertical data of a plurality of bits corresponding to the number of wire pins in the horizontal direction. Output as serial data.

Therefore, as described above, the laser beam printer is a printer excellent in performance, but cannot be used as it is as an output terminal of a dedicated host computer for the wire dot impact printer.

The present invention enables a printer such as a laser beam printer to be used as an output terminal for a host computer dedicated to a wire dot impact printer, and has a function for this purpose inherently provided in this type of printer. Are effectively used to realize the advantage in terms of cost. Hereinafter, the configuration for that will be described. In the description, it is assumed that recording information from a host computer dedicated to a wire dot impact printer (hereinafter referred to as an impact host computer) (1 ′) to be used is transmitted as 8-bit serial data. As an example, a similar configuration can be applied to the case of serial data having a bit number other than 8 bits.

As shown in FIG. 2, the data is transmitted from the impact host computer (1 ') via the cable (2').
In the wire dot impact printer, the bit serial data (B ₀ ) to (B ₇ ) are individually input to the eight wire pins (p ₀ ) to (p ₇ ) of the print head (P) to perform the printing operation. And to control its output.

On the other hand, in the above-described laser beam printer (LP), the serial data (B ₀ ) to (B ₇ ) of each of the 8 bits is used.
Are eight wire pins (P ₀ ) to (P ₇ ) arranged in the vertical direction of the recording
Therefore, the bitmap control unit (4D) uses the serial data (B ₀ ) to expand it on the bitmap memory (4A) in the same manner as when character information is handled. the (B _7), and is configured to output the bitmap reading unit of the print controller (4) as a pseudo character codes having the same structure as the character code described above (4C).

The bitmap control unit (4D) converts the serial data from the host computer (1 ') by using the text buffer (4E) as in the case where the serial data is input from the host computer (1) described above. Provisionally edit. The bitmap reading unit (4C) also uses the temporarily edited serial data from the bitmap control unit (4D) in the same manner as when the serial data is input from the host computer (1) described above. Then, write dot data for recording to the bitmap memory (4A).

In other words, the output serial data that has passed through the bitmap control unit (4D) is grouped in units of 8 bits, and the set of 8-bit serial data is treated as if it were a character code. By preparing pseudo font data corresponding to the pseudo character code, a character code is input when serial data which is image information from the impact host computer is stored in the bitmap memory (4A). The same processing as described above can be performed, and a configuration that is advantageous in terms of cost can be obtained by effectively utilizing the functions inherent in this type of printer.

For this purpose, a pseudo font memory (4H) having substantially the same configuration as the above-mentioned font memory (4B) is provided. First, the configuration of the pseudo font memory (4H) will be described.

As can be seen in Figure 2, the structure of the data from the impact host computer (1 '), the 8-bit serial data (B ₀₎ ~ (B _7), 8 pieces of wire pins arranged in the vertical direction of the recording This corresponds to (p ₀ ) to (p ₇ ). In other words, the planar configuration in the recording of the serial data is to form a column vector of 8 rows and 1 column.

Therefore, the plurality of pseudo font data stored in the pseudo font memory (4H) are respectively composed of row vectors (B ₀ ) to (B) shown in FIG. Eight dot data (b ₀ ) to (b ₇ ) forming a column vector shown in FIG. 3B having a transposed matrix relationship with (B ₇ ).

In a row, each bit corresponds to the serial data "3C _(H) " shown in FIG. 4B corresponding to the wire pins (p ₀ ) to (p ₇ ) shown in FIG. 4A respectively. Fig. 4 (c)
The pseudo font data shown in (1) is prepared.

The bitmap control unit (4D) receives the record information sent from the host computer (1 '), and converts the subsequent serial data into a protocol for a wire dot impact printer by the command data added to the head of the serial data. Is determined to be serial data. That is, the bitmap control unit (4D) constitutes the data determination unit in the present invention.

If the bitmap control unit (4D) determines that the subsequent serial data is serial data of the protocol for the wire dot impact printer, the data writing unit (4b) sets the pseudo font memory (4H )
Select Specifically, this is performed by setting address data to be accessed by the data writing unit (4b) in a pseudo font memory storing pseudo font data corresponding to the pseudo character code.

If the bitmap control unit (4D) determines that the subsequent serial data is serial data of a protocol for a wire dot impact printer, the bitmap memory (4A) of the data writing unit (4b) Is set to a storage area corresponding to the pseudo font data. Specifically, the increment of the start address of each font data that the data writing unit (4b) has performed when writing a plurality of font data is changed from 16 bits corresponding to the size of the font data to the pseudo font data. This is performed by changing to 1 bit corresponding to the size.

As a result, a plurality of 8-bit serial data is input from the bitmap control unit (4D),
The data writing unit (4b) of the bitmap reading unit (4C) sets each serial data group as a pseudo character code and stores the corresponding pseudo font data in the pseudo font memory (4C).
H), the plurality of pseudo-font data are set in a state in which a set arranged from the left to the right in a virtual matrix formed by the bitmap memory (4A) is arranged from the top to the bottom, Map memory (4A)
Write to.

When the data conversion means associates the 8-bit serial data with the pseudo character code, the codes from “00 _(H) ” to “1F _(H) ” are used as printer control codes, and thus are input. The system is configured so that “20 _(H) ” is added to 8-bit serial data to be treated as a pseudo character code. Table 1 on the next page shows the correspondence between the input output serial data and the pseudo character codes.

Note that the output serial data “E0 _(H) ” to “FF _(H) ” is simply because the pseudo character code “00 _(H) ” to “1F _(H) ” cannot be used as described above. Since one pseudo-font data cannot be used, two pseudo-font data are superposed and written in the same address of the bitmap memory (4A). For example, for the serial data “FF _(H) ”, as shown in FIG. 5, pseudo font data “10 _(H) ” (“A0 _(H) ” as a pseudo character code ₎ and “ 7F _(H) "(the pseudo character code is" 9F _(H) ") and the pseudo address data is skipped once by the data allocating means so that the two pseudo font data can be obtained. It will be overwritten.

As described above, on the bitmap memory (4A), a plurality of dot data for recording are stored so as to have the same arrangement as the actual recording on the virtual matrix formed by the bitmap memory (4A). . After the storage, the operation of the printer head control unit (3a) in response to the print start command from the bitmap control unit (4D) is the same as the case where the character code described above is input.

Next, the operation of expanding the graphic image data, which is image information from the impact host computer (1 '), on the bitmap memory (4A) as described above,
A description will be given based on a flowchart showing a procedure of processing performed by the microcomputer of the bitmap control unit (4D) shown in FIG.

The image information from the graphic host computer (1 ') is usually composed of image size data indicating the total number of image data to be transmitted, the first byte being a bit image designation command indicating the type of data, and the next 1 byte being the bit image designation command. Then, a plurality of image data are sent in the following format. In the flowchart of FIG. 6, operations that are not directly related to the present invention, such as character code expansion, are simplified or omitted.

When this program starts, first, an initial setting is performed <# 1>, a processing flag << G-MODE >> which is set when the graphic image data is being processed, and a data counter << for counting the number of graphic image data >> After resetting to “0” based on “G-COUNT” <# 1>, input data in byte units <# 1>
2>.

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the processing flag << G-MODE >> is set, that is, whether or not the graphic image data is being processed (# 10). Processing flag << G-MOD
If it is determined that "E" is not set, it is determined whether or not the input data is a bit image designation command <# 11>. If it is determined that the input data is not a bit image designation command, for example, if it is a character code designation command, then the corresponding command processing is performed. After setting the processing to be developed on the memory (4A), the process returns to the steps of <# 12> and <# 2> to input the data of the next byte.

If it is determined in step <# 11> that the input data is a bit image designation command, then the processing flag << G-MODE >> is set, and then the currently selected font name is set. (Identification name given to each font when the font memory (4B) stores font data corresponding to a plurality of fonts such as fonts. Font memory (4B) If only the corresponding font data is stored, the name for identifying the font memory (4B) itself is saved <# 16>, and after selecting the pseudo font memory (4H) <# 17> , And returns to the step <# 2> to input the data of the next byte.

On the other hand, in the step <# 10>, the processing flag << G-MODE >>
Is set, that is, if the graphic image data is being processed, the data counter << G-COUNT >> is checked <# 20>. If the data counter << G-COUNT >> is still "0" immediately after the start of data input, the image size data as input data is substituted into the data counter << G-COUNT >>, and then <# 21>, <##
Returning to step 2>, input the next data.

Data counter << G-COUNT >> in the step of <# 20>
If it is determined that is not “0”, then <# 30>
Proceed to step. In the step <# 30>, it is determined whether or not the input 8-bit data is equal to or more than “E0 _(H) ”. This is from “00 _(H) ” to “1F
_(H) is used as a printer control code to determine whether it is necessary to overwrite pseudo font data.

If the input data is smaller than “E0 _(H) ”, it is unnecessary to overwrite the pseudo font data, and then “20 _(H) ” is added to the input data to create a pseudo character code.
31>, calls a << data write >> subroutine for writing data based on the pseudo character code.
32>. In the << data write >> subroutine, pseudo font data corresponding to the pseudo character code is read from the pseudo font memory (4H) and stored in a predetermined storage area of the bit map memory (4A) based on the set top address data. After writing, the top address data is increased by one bit.

On the other hand, if the input data is “E0 _(H) ” or more, it is necessary to overwrite the pseudo font data, and “60 _(H) ” (from the input data to create the first pseudo character code for overwriting. The subtraction of “20 _(H) ” − “80 _(H) ”) is subtracted <# 35>, and then the subroutine of << data writing >> is called <# 36>. Thereafter, the leading address data is reduced by one bit <# 37>, and "A0 _(H) " is set as the second pseudo character code for overwriting <# 38>. Call subroutine <#
39>.

After returning from the <data write> subroutine called in step <# 32> or <# 39>, the data counter << G-COUNT >> is decremented to <# 45>. Counter << G-COUNT >>
Is determined to be "0", that is, whether or not input of all data is completed <# 50>.

If it is determined that the data counter << G-COUNT >> is not "0", the flow returns to the step <# 2> to input the next data, and the data counter << G-COUNT >> becomes "0". If it is determined that all data has been input, <# 1
Select the font name saved in step 6 again and select <# 5
1> After resetting the processing flag << G-MODE >>
Return to the steps 2> and <# 2> to prepare for the input of the next data.

(Another embodiment)

 Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

<1> In the above embodiment, the pseudo font data is configured from eight dot data in eight rows and one column.
Instead, for example, as shown in FIG.
It may be composed of 64 dot data. In this case, each pseudo font data is stored in the bitmap memory (4
A) In the above, in the portion where the second to eighth columns of the previous pseudo font data are stored, 1
By overwriting so that the seventh to seventh columns are written, the data can be developed on the bitmap memory (4A) as in the previous embodiment.

Further, although not shown, the pseudo font data is divided into 8 rows and 8 columns or more rows and columns (for example, 24 rows and 24 columns or 24 rows and 24 columns).
It may be composed of dot data of 32 columns etc.). In this case, the row direction is the same as that described above, and the column direction is such that the subsequent pseudo font data is written in the portion where the ninth and lower rows of the previous pseudo font data are stored. What is necessary is just to be written.

According to this configuration, when the font data corresponding to the character code is composed of the above-described 64 dot data of 8 rows and 8 columns or dot data of more rows and columns, the pseudo font memory The configuration of (4H) can be made exactly the same as the font memory (4B).

In the case of such a configuration, since the overwriting is performed as described above, the dot data other than the dot data (b ₀ ) to (b ₇ ) constituting the column vector of the pseudo font data is arbitrary. Value. Therefore, from the first row of the first column of the font data to 8
Using a font memory having a font name such that all lines are blank, dot data (1st to 8th lines) of the first column of the font data in the font memory constitutes the above-described column vector. b ₀₎ ~ (b ₇₎ advance to have a deployment to mask from the first row of the first column to line 8 when recording in accordance with the character data on the bit map memory (4A) With this configuration, it is not necessary to provide the pseudo font memory (4H) separately from the font memory (4B), and the storage capacity can be reduced.

In short, if the pseudo font data includes a plurality of dot data (b ₀ ) to (b ₇ ) forming a column vector having a transposed matrix relationship with a row vector formed of a plurality of bits of serial data The size and configuration of the virtual matrix of the entire pseudo font data in which they are arranged are arbitrary.

<2> In the above embodiment, the printer interface device according to the present invention is provided inside the printer. Instead, the printer interface device is connected to the output of the impact host computer (1 '). Or an independent apparatus independent of any of the impact host computer (1 ') and the laser beam printer (LP). The installation position and the installation form are arbitrary.

<3> The capacity of the bitmap memory (4A) may be half a page or one third of the page in order to reduce the memory capacity instead of one page, or conversely, two or three pages. It may be for a plurality of pages.

<4> In the above embodiment, the recording information from the impact host computer (1 ') is transmitted in units of 8 bits. However, by changing the structure of the pseudo font data, a plurality of bits of more than 4 bits can be obtained. It can correspond to what is sent one by one.

Further, a plurality of types of pseudo font memories are prepared for each of a plurality of types of pseudo font data corresponding to the number of bits constituting one unit of the recording information, and these can be appropriately selected and used. Is also good. In this case, the selection of a plurality of pseudo font memories may be configured to be switched manually, or may be configured to automatically switch by determining command data included in the record information.

<5> For both the pseudo font memory (4H) and the font memory (4B), or both of them,
The cartridge type may be configured to be detachable from the interface device so that a plurality of types of pseudo font data or font data can be used without increasing the storage capacity of the interface device.

<6> In the above-described embodiment, the text buffer (4E) for provisional editing is provided so that the recording layout and editing can be performed more easily. However, the present invention is implemented. In doing so, the text buffer (4E) may be omitted.

<7> In the above embodiment, a laser beam printer (LP) is described as an example of a page printer. However, the present invention relates to a page printer having a configuration in which a predetermined amount of recording is performed at a time using a bitmap memory. If there is, the format of the recording is irrelevant, and it can be applied to various printers such as a laser beam printer, an LED printer, a liquid crystal printer, a thermal printer and an ink jet printer.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, the interface device of the printer according to the present invention converts the image information transmitted as serial data of a plurality of bits into a character code corresponding to a character for each set of serial data corresponding to the plurality of bits. By treating in the same way, the function inherent in this type of printer, that is, the function of reading font data corresponding to the character code from the font memory and expanding it on the bitmap memory, is effectively used. Output terminal of a host computer that outputs image information as serial data with a configuration in which multiple pieces of data arranged in the vertical direction of the recording are arranged in the horizontal direction with only a simple configuration change on the software side with little need to add Laser beam printers with excellent recording speed and recording performance Since the use of a page printer has been enabled, the generalization of the page printer has enabled the entire system to be used in a recording system consisting of a wire dot printer and a host computer adapted to it, such as a laser beam printer. Without changing to a combination of a page printer and a host computer adapted to the page printer, the efficiency of recording and the high quality can be improved in cost advantage only by replacing the printer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 6 show an embodiment of an interface device of a printer according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a recording system, and FIG. 2 shows a configuration of recording information for a wire dot impact printer. FIG. 3 (a) is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of serial data, FIG. 3 (b) is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of pseudo font data, FIG.
5A to 5C are schematic diagrams each showing an example of recording data, pseudo character code, and pseudo font data for a wire dot impact printer, FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing overwriting, and FIG. 6 is a bit map. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of expanding data to a memory. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram corresponding to FIG. 4 (c) showing another embodiment of the pseudo font data. (4A) bitmap memory, (4B) font memory, (4H) pseudo font memory, (4D) data discriminating means, (4c) output means.

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Reference number in the agency FI Technical display location G09G 1/02 G09G 1/02 M

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A bit map memory for storing a plurality of dot data for recording over a predetermined range in a state of being arranged on a virtual matrix of a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and a plurality of a plurality of character codes for a plurality of mutually different character codes. A font memory for storing font data in which dot data is arranged on a virtual matrix of a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and a plurality of columns forming a column vector having a transposed matrix relationship with a row vector composed of a plurality of bits of serial data A pseudo font memory storing pseudo font data including dot data of the following; data discriminating means for discriminating whether input data is serial data indicating a graphic image or character code data; Either the pseudo font memory or the font memory Means for reading the pseudo font data or font data according to the input data from the pseudo font memory or the font memory selected by the data reading selection means, and as dot data on the bit map memory. An interface device for a printer, comprising: developing means for developing, and output means for reading and outputting dot data in a bitmap memory in a predetermined order.